Cut-out switch for series loops.



W. A. KIRKLAND.

CUT-OUT SWTCH FCR SERIES LOOPS.

APPLICATxoN FILED fEB.14,1916.

ation torn ey.

Patented Apr. 24,1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ARCHIBALD KIRKLAND, OF CEDAR FALLS, IOWA.

CUT-OUT SWITCH FOR SERIES LOOPS.

Application led February 14, 1916.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, IViiLLmM ARCHIBALD KniiiLAND, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Cedar Falls, Blackhawk county, Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cut- Out Switches for Series Loops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in selective switches for loop circuits, and the object of my improvement is to arrange a make-and-break device in a series circuit of loops capable of use in switching off a loop from the circuit while leaving the remainder' of the circuit closed.

This object I have accomplished by the means which are hereinafte1 described and claimed, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which the gure is a diagrammatic plan of my device, with dotted lines indicating the positions of the movable parts of the switch after they have been shifted to cut off a loop from the y circuit.

. conducting substance.

In street lighting systems, it is usual to have all lamps arranged in series circuit, with isolated streets or suburbs served by loops thereof, which leave the main circuit and return to it again. My improved switch is to be located at this place where the loop ends join the main circuit.

My improved switch is used when it is desired to cut out the loop from the main circuit. If the circuit is opened through any cause, it may be discovered by the operation of this switch that the break has occurred in the loop, and the loop cut out, to permit of the use of the main circuit and other loops without interruption. Also, when the loop is cut out, means are provided for grounding the loop for more convenient testing thereafter.

The figure is a plan view of my improved device, the full lines indicating the positions of the parts when the loop is in series with the main circuit, while the dotted lines show the movable parts shifted to cut out the loop. y

My improved switch is mounted on a suitable base of slate, porcelain, fiber or any non- Insulating blocks 5, 26, 25, 8, 15, 11 and 12 are mounted on the base, and are of a suliicient thickness to raise the mechanism to a .proper height to permit easy operation of its movable parts,

Spcccation ot' Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

serial No. 78,122.

while being of sufficient strength to support them.

The numerals 36, 35, 21 and 23 denote strips of insulation of sufficient strength to operatively and movably connect the movable conducting bodies in pairs, 311 and 22, and 21, and the conducting bar 9 with the conducting bodies 21 and 22, respectively, pivotally connected therebetween as shown. The longitudinally movable conducting bar 9 has a handle 141 composed of insulating` material, and said bar is slidable across insulation supports 11 and 12, and has longitudinal slots 10 through which pass bolts 13, over which said bar has a limited sliding movement.

The conducting parts of the switch are the clips 6, 7, 32 and 31, the parts 34, 33, 22 and 21 being` switch blades, while the conducting parts 28, 27, mounted on the insulation blocks 26 and 25, and 18 and 17 mounted on the insulation blocks 16 and 15, respectively, are base plates forming a connection between the contact clips 32 and 31 and the switch blades 22 and 21. 20 and 19 are binder posts on the base plates 18 and 17 respectively, and are terminals for the main circuit 1 containing` the generator 37. 30 and 29 are binder posts on the baseplates 28 and 27 respectively, and form the 'terminals for the loop circuit 2. 11 is a binder post on the contact clip 6 and forms.

a terminal for the ground wire 3, said clip being mounted. on the insulating block 5.

Operation.

lVlien the entire circuit, including the loop 2, is closed. current passes from the generator 37 to the binder posts 20 and 19, completing the circuit through the switch when the parts are in the position indicated by the full lines of the drawing, through the conducting` parts 18 and 17, 22 and 21, 32 and. 31, 28 and 27, the binder posts 30 and 29. and the loop 2.

In order to open the circuit through the loop 2 only, while leaving the main circuit closed, it is necessary to shift the conductbar 9 by means of its handle 14, in order to bring the conducting parts of the switch into the positions indicated by dotted lines. This disassociates the switch blades 22 and 21 from the contact clips 32 and 31, thus opening the loop circuit. The blades 22 and 21 then come in contact with the contact clip 7, while the insulating strips 36 and 35 swing the movable switch blades 34 and 33 into contact with the conducting clip 6. Any residual electricity in the loop 2 and the conducting parts 28-34, 27-33, and 6 now escapes by way of the ground wire 3, leaving the loop in good condition for testing.

The main circuit remains closed because of the contacting of the switch blades 22 and 21 with the contact clip 7. In case of a break in the circuit, it is necessary to pull the handle 14 to shift the switch-parts into the positions shown in the dotted lines, and then turn on the current. If the main circuit 1 remains unadected, that is to say, becomes closed, it is proof that the break is in the loop 2. Since the loop circuit is now grounded, it is possible to begin testing of the loop at once, without going to the additional labor and expense of connecting a temporary ground, and the main circuit remains in operation.

This switch is so arranged and of such convenient dimensions that it may be housed in a very shallow box suitable to be fastened to any pole or support upon which the electric wires are mounted. A slit may be provided in the bot-tom of the box, through which only the insulated handle 14 may protrude, so as to permit the operation of the switch Without opening the box.

Havingdescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a make-and-break mechanism inserted in a main circuit having a series loop, said mechanism having coacting conduction bodies of which some are movable out of or into Contact with others to thereby dissociate the loop from said main circuit and close the main circuit and a ground connection leading from these conducting bodies in the loop circuit only when said loop circuit is. disconnected from said main circuit.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a make-and-break mechanism inserted in a main circuit having a series loop, said mechanism having movable parts coacting to dissociate the loop from the main circuit While leaving the latter closed, and a ground connection adapted to become connected to the loop when the loop is dissociated from the main circuit.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a make-and-break mechanism inserted in a circuit having a series loop, said mechanism having movable parts adapted to coact to dissociate the loop from the main circuit while closing the main circuit, a ground-connection leading from the series loop only when the latter is cut of from the main circuit, and means for moving said parts.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a make-and-break mechanism connecting a main circuit with a series loop thereof, said mechanism being composed of insulated base-plates, terminals thereon in a main circuit with a generator, other baseplates, terminals thereon in circuit with a loop circuit, movable insulated switch-blades movable into contact with said base-plates to establish a series circuit through said main circuit and loop, an insulated conducting clip, said switch-blades being movable out of contact with certain of said baseplates and into contact with said clip to dissociate the loop from the main circuit while closing the main circuit, another insulated conducting clip, movable blades on the lastmentioned base-plates movable into contact with the last-mentioned clip when the firstmentioned switch-blades are moved into contact with the first-mentioned clip, a ground-wire connected to the last-mentioned clip, and means for shifting said movable parts to and fro.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a make-and-break mechanism connecting a main circuit with a series loop thereof, said mechanism being composed of insulated base-plates, terminals thereon in a main circuit with a generator, other baseplates, terminals thereon in circuit with a loop circuit, movable insulated switchblades movable into contact with said baseplates to establish a series circuit through said main circuit and loop, an insulated conducting clip, said switch-blades being movable out of contact with certain of said baseplates and into contact with said clip to dissociate the loop from the main circuit while closing the main circuit, another insulated conducting clip, movable blades on the lastmentioned base-plates movable into contact with the last-mentioned clip when the first mentioned switch blades are moved into contact with the iirst-mentioned clip, and means for shifting said movable parts to and fro.

Signed at IVaterloo, Iowa, this 10th day of Feb., 1916.

WILLIAM ARCHIBALD KIRKLAND.

Witnesses:

PEARL M. STANTON, GEO. C. KENNEDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

